January 16, 2025 • 22 mins
One of the best ways to show love to neighbors during hard or stressful times is making and dropping off dinner. In this episode I go through everything you need to think of when preparing these meals as well as the recipes I use the most when dropping off dinner.
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Speaker 1 (00:05):
Hi, everybody.
Speaker 2 (00:06):
I'm Kelsey Nixon and this is Kitchen Prescription, the podcast
you listen to and you don't know what to make
for dinner. Today's episode one hundred and thirteen drop off Dinners.
As most of you know, I'm based in southern California,
and it has been a rough week for anyone that
lives in or around Los Angeles given the historic wildfires
that are raging through communities right now. While my family
(00:29):
and I are lucky enough to not be directly impacted,
our previous community of Sierra Madre, which borders Altadna and
here you're probably hearing in the news right now, that
was hit so hard and that's resulted in us having
multiple friends and former neighbors that have lost homes. We
also have friends in other parts of LA like Brentwood,
(00:50):
who are still evacuated and hoping and praying that they
don't lose their homes. On top of that, we have
a handful of families that we have temporarily relocated to
our current city here in San Clementy because their homes
burned down. All that to say, I have been inundated
with stories this past week of just how destructive these
fires have been for people in my orbit, and I
(01:13):
am just so very sorry for everyone who is dealing
with this. When I feel this stress becomes somewhat paralyzing,
you know, like watching the news twenty four to seven
and feeling like there's no hope. I do best when
I take any sort of action. So my family and
I have done our very best to take action where
(01:33):
it makes sense. This past week, we've donated to some
individual families go fundmes, especially those that we know. We've
donated to bigger, reputable organizations like World Central Kitchen is
a favorite of mine. We pulled together clothes to donate
after a closet clean out this past weekend, and even
helped one of the families that had just relocated to
(01:54):
our area set up a kitchen, and we went through
the kitchen and pulled out pots and pans and knives
and stuff that we could give them. The recovery efforts
for this natural disaster in particular, it's like going to
extend for a very long time. It is just other worldly.
It is crazy what has happened. So we are just
(02:16):
going to continue to focus on looking for opportunities to
extend service, and I think that that's going to exist
for a while, especially given just how many families have
been displaced, so asking ourselves when we feel helpless, like
what a simple action could be. One thing I am
doing this week in particular, is I am taking dinner
(02:40):
as part of a meal train to a family that
lost their home and is now living here.
Speaker 1 (02:44):
And one of the things I.
Speaker 2 (02:45):
Could ask about most often, honestly, is this idea of
drop off dinners. What I like to take, how I
like to take it, and so forth. So that's what
we're going to talk about because it is top of
mind for me as I am doing it for a
family this week, and figure that it is always a
good time to discuss how you can support someone through
(03:05):
a really good home cooked meal. But first let's get
into a few recipe ideas you could throw on your
meal plan this week. First up, a good comfort food
classic skillet chicken pot pie. This is about the easiest
way to make chicken pop pie. Everything happens in a
big twelve inch skillet and then I top it with
drop biscuits. For me in this season of life, I
(03:26):
usually use the frozen Grands biscuits. I think it is
the best store bought biscuit option, but I also have
a recipe for a really simple drop biscuit if you
want to make it from scratch. But also my kids
really like those grands ones, so we're going with it.
The second recipe is my chicken faeta bowls. This we're
(03:48):
on a Mexican kick. We kind of always are, but
we're on an aggressive one right now. It just happens
to be one of those things that everyone will eat.
And so we're doing chicken fieta bowls with peppers and
onions and a really goodli lime vinigrette that's going to
go on top of those got beans and rice and
just kind of an easy, pulled together meal. And then
third is a new recipe, this creamy roasted red pepper pasta.
(04:12):
It's a delicious sauce and it's got so much protein
in it, you guys, because the secret ingredient is cottage cheese.
I know, don't give up on me.
Speaker 1 (04:22):
It's so good.
Speaker 2 (04:23):
You blend it all together, but you first start with
garlic and onions, and you do salt, pepper and some spices,
and you add in the sundried tomatoes and it smells heavenly,
and then you blend it with this cottage cheese which
has so much protein in it, and so it's a
really good high protein pasta sauce. And especially if you
(04:44):
are a vegetarian and you are always looking for non
meat ways to introduce protein and cheer meals, you are
going to love this all right. There are your recipes
for the week. You can find and print them all
in Recipe Club individually or in our weekly meal plan
where we have an easy to follow shopping list that
it's broken down by recipe. You guys know, Recipe Club
is a resource that allows you to access truly family tested,
(05:06):
just ask my kids, quick and simple recipes on the
internet without being bombarded with banner ads or long blog
posts or drawn out stories. I find and found for
many years accessing recipes on the Internet to be frustrating,
so I have very intentionally created a space where I
try and make that easier. And it's not just a
(05:27):
recipe resource. It is a simple dinner system. So for
the month of January, for anyone who's looking to set
up a simple dinner system that's going to carry them
throughout the year, we are discounting our annual membership by
twenty five percent, which makes Recipe Club just barely more
than one dollar per week throughout the year.
Speaker 1 (05:45):
Like I cannot. It's so that is so worth it.
Speaker 2 (05:49):
It's an incredible investment to have a simple dinner system
you can rely on. And the assistance is someone an
overwhelmed parent like myself helping you decide what to make
for dinner every week.
Speaker 1 (06:00):
Well worth that slightly.
Speaker 2 (06:03):
More than a dollar if you ask me. All right,
let's jump into the hat. All right, let's jump into
the back half of the podcast and discuss how to
drop off dinner or take a meal to someone. I
can't think of a more personal or heartwarming gift for
someone in need of a pick me up than bringing
(06:24):
them a meal. There is something so special about a
meal you make yourself with.
Speaker 1 (06:28):
Your own hands.
Speaker 2 (06:30):
And we'll know that a homemade meal doesn't just feed someone,
It says I care about you, I spend time on you,
I thought about your needs, and I am here to
help you are important to me. Can you send a
delivered pizza or door dash? Absolutely, and that's great too,
But it just kind of hits different when it's a
home cooked meal, but a grieving friend or a neighbor
(06:51):
who just lost their home, or someone who just had
a baby, someone who's had a knee replacement or got
a car accident. There's just so many instances that having
the confidence and the skill set to put together a
meal for someone who's going through something is such a
valuable skill to have in your tool belt of being
a good human on this planet. We've all found ourselves
(07:13):
in situations in life when sometimes you can't even handle
the basic task of feeding yourself, especially when you feel
like your life is falling apart, and especially if you're
not just in charge of yourself but you have other
people under your roof. And if you haven't found yourself
in that situation yet, you likely will and will know
how much it would mean if someone showed up with
(07:34):
a meal and dropped off dinner. So I thought it
might be helpful, especially because I am just right in
the thick of this right now, to kind of break
down the steps for taking a meal to someone dropping
off a dinner. I guess you could even call this
a recipe for dropping off dinner. I don't know, Okay,
(07:54):
So these are the steps I suggest, and how you're
going to kind of build that skill set reaching out
and letting your friend know you're bringing a meal.
Speaker 1 (08:04):
I think this is important because you don't. I mean,
it's better to do something and do nothing.
Speaker 2 (08:09):
But even if you are sending a text just to say,
no need to respond to me, I'm dropping something off,
But I do think it's nice to let them know
that you're dropping something off. But if this is someone
you have a good relationship with and you do anticipate
that they will respond to you, you just want to
confirm if you don't know if they have any allergies
or family of versions. Like the people I'm taking dinner
(08:31):
to this week, one of their kids has celiac and
so that was good for me to know. So I
was able to make something that they could all eat.
You could even ask if they're really good friends, anything
you're craving. And alternatively, and this is actually what I
did this time, is you could just sign up via
a meal train or you could organize one yourself. So
sign up Genius is great for this. But especially if
(08:53):
someone like in this situation where they have lost their home,
they are going to be navigating daily tasks for a
bit as they adjust to a new normal, and so
having a series of meals is very, very helpful, all right.
Number two in our recipe for taking someone's dinner, choose
what you'll make.
Speaker 1 (09:12):
I suggest having a go to list.
Speaker 2 (09:14):
Mine is a drop off dinner's note in both my
phone and in my recipe binder. I have a little
tab for that. This is just so helpful to take
the decision fatigue out of wanting to take someone dinner.
So I'll tell you what's in what's on my list.
Speaker 1 (09:31):
Because I use them kind of for different scenarios. Bonus points.
Speaker 2 (09:34):
If you're delivering a freezer friendly dinner, and I think
most of these are, one of them isn't, but we'll
talk about that. But just in case, they are getting
so much support and they've ended up with far more
food than they can eat through being able to stick
it in the freezer is super super helpful. Okay, this
is what's on my list. Bake ZD Bake ced is
(09:56):
my most popular recipe and recipe club. It's probably the
recipe I'm most known for. It freezes well, everybody loves it.
I make it often. The only time I'm not taking
BAKEDZD is if there is like a gluten allergy like
this time around, or if I have taken it to
them before or if I know that they make it regularly.
Speaker 1 (10:15):
But bake zd is so delicious. It's so good.
Speaker 2 (10:18):
It's even better as leftovers. It feeds a ton of people.
It's just a great option. It's like lasagna.
Speaker 1 (10:25):
Esque, but not lasagna. It's that's better than lasagna.
Speaker 2 (10:28):
Anyways, Big cit that's my number one. Number two is
Carneada's tacos, and this is what I am taking this week.
It is not difficult to make this recipe, but there
are a couple of components, so as I'm assembling it,
I need to make sure that I reserve enough time
to make the different components. Because when I take the
Carnada's tacos, I usually like to do pickled onions with it.
(10:51):
If I've got time, we like to throw a little together,
a little guacamole. I usually do some rice and beans,
and if they have kids, like they do, this time,
I'm gonna do some quesada and used some gluten free
tortillas for those case idias, but also the rice, the
beans and some tortilla chips and stuff like that. So
Carneitis tacos, man, They're good, and it's just I don't know.
(11:12):
You can make a burrito bowl out of it. You
can do the tacos. It's I really like taking this
meal and it's so pretty, it's so colorful, and anyways, okay,
it's on my list. Indian butter chickens on my list.
Another very popular recipe and recipe Club also freeze as well.
I once upon a time took this meal to a
friend in a twelve inch cast iron skillet with dual handles.
Speaker 1 (11:37):
That's my favorite one.
Speaker 2 (11:39):
And I just told them to keep the skillet, don't
worry about report. She is someone who was always like,
I need new coke wear, and so I was like,
just keep the pan. You'll love this pan. But that
and then I usually do non bread with it and rice,
and then this one's kind of like, uh, not as obvious.
But I took this to a friend recently and she
just talked about how her daughter had been in the
hospital with pneumonia for about a week, and she talked
(12:02):
about how they were getting so much, you know, generosity
from people, but it was a lot of soup, stews, chilies,
baked dishes, and so to get these Mediterranean roasted sweet
potatoes felt like such a treat.
Speaker 1 (12:13):
So I roastweet.
Speaker 2 (12:14):
Potatoes, and I make this Mediterranean like bright salad that
goes on top with this delicious hummus sauce and lemon,
and she sent me multiple text saying, oh so good,
I'm so glad you brought this. So that's another one
that has now made it onto the list because she
enjoyed it so much. When you were taking a dish
like this or dinner like this, if you're wanting to
(12:35):
do a side dish, I highly recommend keeping it very simple,
so don't overwhelm yourself. Anything homemade is great, but like
for my baked ZD I usually will do like a
salad kit and some garlic bread, and I usually deliver
it in a foil nine x thirteen so they don't
have to worry about returning anything to me and they
can just bake it directly in that. And that's something
(12:57):
I'll say sometimes if I I'm talking to them, I
will say, do you want me to deliver it hot?
Or do you want me to deliver it so that
you can stick it in the fridge and then bake
it off when you're ready. I think if you're going
to default, I would just show up with it warm,
so they could eat it right away, but if, like
I said, if they're getting a lot of support and
they have smother meals, it might be nice. Or they
(13:18):
could even stick it in the freezer. Okay, carnitas. Like
I said, let's talk about simple sides here. Tacos are
so simple, but you know there are components. So I
am gonna make pickled onions. I'm not gonna make the salceat.
I am gonna make a little guacamole, and I'm gonna
do the case ideas with the rice and beans and.
Speaker 1 (13:36):
What for this instance. And I wouldn't.
Speaker 2 (13:38):
Typically always do this, but because this family just lost everything,
I am going to make everything and transfer it to
my favorite food storage containers, which is the rubber made
Brilliance Set.
Speaker 1 (13:50):
They are just the best.
Speaker 2 (13:53):
When it comes to food storage containers. And I'm gonna
deliver the food in that and just let her know
that she can keep them because they are hands down
one of the most used things in my kitchen.
Speaker 1 (14:02):
And if my kitchen burned down, I would miss those.
I would really miss those.
Speaker 2 (14:06):
So I am going to do that there. If there's
a situation, I mean, every situation is going to be
so different. We just don't want to create a burden
for them to have to return anything to us. So
if you are wanting to make something, bake it in
something and say just keep it, that's great, or that
the foil.
Speaker 1 (14:23):
Pans are also a great option the end.
Speaker 2 (14:27):
In buttered chicken, I the easy sides are the rice
and the non and usually I chop some fresh cilantro
and do fresh wedges of lime, and then like I said,
with the roasted sowat potatoes, the humma sauce, and that
tomato parsley salad. If you're feeling even more extra in this,
I guess would be technically number four. In our recipe
of dropping off dinner, you.
Speaker 1 (14:47):
Can include something sweet.
Speaker 2 (14:49):
It certainly does not need to be in over the
top dessert. Some ideas would even be picking up bakery
cookies or ice cream, or if you've got them frozen
cookie dough balls that they could bake off, or even
just good chocolate. I think that's great.
Speaker 1 (15:03):
Number five, you want to make it, Like.
Speaker 2 (15:07):
I said, I think if you're going to default, I
would say make the meal, let it cool slightly, and
take it some of you know my sister in law, Betsy,
Betsy's best bets. She's amazing and she's the one who
taught me this. She's my sister in law and she's
what ten years old in me something like that, and
I learned so much from her, and she's such a
charitable person. And I remember her giving me this tip
(15:29):
once that when you're taking a meal, especially like to
a mom who's just had a bat a baby, just
take it ready to go. She doesn't want to put
it in the oven, just take it ready to go.
And then finally, if there are instructions that they need,
I would just prepare those ahead of time so that
you don't have to be giving some sort of instruction
when you're dropping it off. Write it down, whether it's
(15:50):
reheating instructions, or if they're going to stick it in
their freezer and you want instructions for what to do
for it to come out of the freezer, just anything,
any information, write it down so that you don't have
to have some long conversation, especially if this person is
grieving and is not up for chatting.
Speaker 1 (16:06):
Okay, that's it.
Speaker 2 (16:08):
Here are a couple of additional thoughts. I kind of
mentioned it earlier, but if you do want to go
the extra mile or you don't live near someone but
want to help with meals in a situation like this,
consider spearheading a meal train through sign up Genius, or
there's a service called take the Meal as well. That's
a great way to get involved if you're not close by.
(16:28):
And also I mean door Dash and Uber Eats that's
another great way to get people food. I really want
to emphasize this one because, like I said, everyone takes
your turn for heartache and going through something hard where
your community wants to support and rally around you. Be
okay with the drop and go. Sometimes people aren't up
(16:49):
for company and it is not personal, it is just
a product of the situation at hand. In this case,
simply text or call the family or maybe the person
who is doing the meal train and say this is
what time will be dropping off.
Speaker 1 (17:05):
Let them know it's there. I'm wishing them the best.
Speaker 2 (17:07):
And if you want to write a little small handwritten note, great,
But that is what I plan to do with this
family today they have or later this week. They have
to be so overwhelmed when it comes to answering people's
questions and being displaced, and she's got people bringing meals
every day, and I'm sure she does not need to
(17:28):
kind of lay out the whole story for a new
stranger every day. So I think the drop and go
is unless you really know this person and you know
that they want that, that they want to talk about it.
I would almost assume the opposite that the drop and go,
especially if they're writing the thick of something.
Speaker 1 (17:48):
All right.
Speaker 2 (17:48):
One last thought is offering to knock at their grocery list.
I did this for my friend who had a daughter
in the hospital with pneumonia is. I took her dinner,
but I also said, hey, I'm going to Costco beforehand,
what can I get for you? And she sent me
a list and it was so easy for me just
to get her stuff and drop it off when I
dropped dinner off.
Speaker 1 (18:07):
So consider that. All right. Oh, I hope not too
many of you.
Speaker 2 (18:12):
Have been affected by these fires. It's just so heavy
on my heart, and I'm grateful for the opportunities I've
had to serve as a result, but oh, my goodness,
so so heavy. All right, let's finish this with my
weekly gimme five. These are five things that made my
life easier or more enjoyable this week. First thing on
the list is this rubber made, brilliant set that I
(18:34):
am taking these this family's meal in hands down my
favorite favorite favorite meal prep containers or meal storage containers.
They come in both glass and plastic. They used to
only come in glass in like a few limited sizes,
but they just released a bigger set in glass that
is so great.
Speaker 1 (18:54):
You deserve to.
Speaker 2 (18:55):
Have matching food storage containers, especially if you're someone who
eats leftovers often or does any sort of meal prep.
It's like it's a grown up flex Like if you're
a grown up, they should match. That's just kind of
how I feel. Or if you're looking for permission, I
give it to you to get a good set of
food prep containers.
Speaker 1 (19:16):
Okay, next guys.
Speaker 2 (19:18):
This was something I mentioned on the podcast last week,
and then I didn't end up sending it out because
in via email because we ended up doing a special
version of Gimme.
Speaker 1 (19:28):
Five for wildfire relief.
Speaker 2 (19:31):
But I like it so much I have to mention
it again. Who knew that a new pepper grinder could
make me so happy?
Speaker 1 (19:37):
I think I told you.
Speaker 2 (19:38):
I updated from my ten dollars one that I'd had
for the past two years, But honestly, the ten dollars.
Speaker 1 (19:43):
One worked for two years. It was pretty great, but
oh man, there's a difference.
Speaker 2 (19:47):
I spent forty dollars instead of ten dollars. And it's
so pretty and it works so well, and it just
makes me so happy, and I use it multiple times
a day. That in the salt pig, like the big
salt seller. So I've got like a new kitchen basic
station setup next to my stove and it is I mean,
it's probably just because of what my job is, but
it makes me so happy every day. Okay, coloring calendar,
(20:11):
you guys, This coloring calendar is awesome. My sister sent
me this link. I have very artistic little girls who
love to color. And as part of our big family
evening this week, we did a family planning session and
we looked at the whole year, and the girls got
out their calendars and my son got out his little
(20:33):
I want to say phone, but it's like a family
communication device, it's not a smartphone, and he's filled in
all this stuff, everybody's birthdays in the family, and then
we did the vacations were going on or big events
that are happening, and it was kind of like a
family planning session. And my girl's colored in these calendars
and it was like super fun. I made a note
that I want to do every year. I just think
(20:54):
it's a good kind of kickoff to a new year.
And then listen, do not sleep on classroom Valentines. I
when am I going to learn this lesson? Apparently this
year because I am ordering the classroom Valentines now on
mid January. I am ordering them because they always sell out,
(21:14):
and I am always scrambling and I am always paying
extra Amazon delivery fees or scouring which target has anything left.
Not this year, I have rounded up a couple of
my favorite classroom Valentines. The ones my kids picked were
so cute. Nora is doing these little you know, I
think they're called gibbets that you like put them on
(21:35):
your crocs and they're little, I don't know, they're little characters.
Found them on Amazon, but it's cute. It's like a
little Valentine with two little gibbits. So she's doing that,
and then Penny is doing little.
Speaker 1 (21:47):
Paint what do you call that?
Speaker 2 (21:48):
Like a little paint container, you know, like the ones
that are along like a ruler, but the openings for
where the water colors are heart shaped. They're so cute
little paint sets.
Speaker 1 (21:58):
So I've rounded those up for you.
Speaker 2 (22:00):
That'll be going out in a link in my newsletter tomorrow.
In addition to we now have a blog on Kelsey
Nixon dot com, so every week we will include all
of the links to Gimme Five that's discussed here and
other fun stuff. All right, that's it for today. You guys,
make sure you're subscribed to the podcast so that you
never miss an episode. This podcast is always meant to
be a quick twenty minute listen while you map out
(22:22):
your own meals.
Speaker 1 (22:22):
For the week.
Speaker 2 (22:23):
You guys all know that listening to a podcast has
always been part of my system, and I actually had
someone ask me this week, what podcast do you listen to?
I listen to Armchair Expert, so hopefully that satisfies you.
It's one of my favorites, but it's always been part
of my simple dinner system. I love it, so I
try and put out something that's a good fit for
that each week.
Speaker 1 (22:42):
Thank you so.
Speaker 2 (22:43):
Much for listening today. I'm so glad you're here. Sending
my best to everyone in Los Angeles and until next time,
happy cooking. I'm Kelsey and look forward to chatting with
you next week.
Hi, everybody.
Speaker 2 (00:06):
I'm Kelsey Nixon and this is Kitchen Prescription, the podcast
you listen to and you don't know what to make
for dinner. Today's episode one hundred and thirteen drop off Dinners.
As most of you know, I'm based in southern California,
and it has been a rough week for anyone that
lives in or around Los Angeles given the historic wildfires
that are raging through communities right now. While my family
(00:29):
and I are lucky enough to not be directly impacted,
our previous community of Sierra Madre, which borders Altadna and
here you're probably hearing in the news right now, that
was hit so hard and that's resulted in us having
multiple friends and former neighbors that have lost homes. We
also have friends in other parts of LA like Brentwood,
(00:50):
who are still evacuated and hoping and praying that they
don't lose their homes. On top of that, we have
a handful of families that we have temporarily relocated to
our current city here in San Clementy because their homes
burned down. All that to say, I have been inundated
with stories this past week of just how destructive these
fires have been for people in my orbit, and I
(01:13):
am just so very sorry for everyone who is dealing
with this. When I feel this stress becomes somewhat paralyzing,
you know, like watching the news twenty four to seven
and feeling like there's no hope. I do best when
I take any sort of action. So my family and
I have done our very best to take action where
(01:33):
it makes sense. This past week, we've donated to some
individual families go fundmes, especially those that we know. We've
donated to bigger, reputable organizations like World Central Kitchen is
a favorite of mine. We pulled together clothes to donate
after a closet clean out this past weekend, and even
helped one of the families that had just relocated to
(01:54):
our area set up a kitchen, and we went through
the kitchen and pulled out pots and pans and knives
and stuff that we could give them. The recovery efforts
for this natural disaster in particular, it's like going to
extend for a very long time. It is just other worldly.
It is crazy what has happened. So we are just
(02:16):
going to continue to focus on looking for opportunities to
extend service, and I think that that's going to exist
for a while, especially given just how many families have
been displaced, so asking ourselves when we feel helpless, like
what a simple action could be. One thing I am
doing this week in particular, is I am taking dinner
(02:40):
as part of a meal train to a family that
lost their home and is now living here.
Speaker 1 (02:44):
And one of the things I.
Speaker 2 (02:45):
Could ask about most often, honestly, is this idea of
drop off dinners. What I like to take, how I
like to take it, and so forth. So that's what
we're going to talk about because it is top of
mind for me as I am doing it for a
family this week, and figure that it is always a
good time to discuss how you can support someone through
(03:05):
a really good home cooked meal. But first let's get
into a few recipe ideas you could throw on your
meal plan this week. First up, a good comfort food
classic skillet chicken pot pie. This is about the easiest
way to make chicken pop pie. Everything happens in a
big twelve inch skillet and then I top it with
drop biscuits. For me in this season of life, I
(03:26):
usually use the frozen Grands biscuits. I think it is
the best store bought biscuit option, but I also have
a recipe for a really simple drop biscuit if you
want to make it from scratch. But also my kids
really like those grands ones, so we're going with it.
The second recipe is my chicken faeta bowls. This we're
(03:48):
on a Mexican kick. We kind of always are, but
we're on an aggressive one right now. It just happens
to be one of those things that everyone will eat.
And so we're doing chicken fieta bowls with peppers and
onions and a really goodli lime vinigrette that's going to
go on top of those got beans and rice and
just kind of an easy, pulled together meal. And then
third is a new recipe, this creamy roasted red pepper pasta.
(04:12):
It's a delicious sauce and it's got so much protein
in it, you guys, because the secret ingredient is cottage cheese.
I know, don't give up on me.
Speaker 1 (04:22):
It's so good.
Speaker 2 (04:23):
You blend it all together, but you first start with
garlic and onions, and you do salt, pepper and some spices,
and you add in the sundried tomatoes and it smells heavenly,
and then you blend it with this cottage cheese which
has so much protein in it, and so it's a
really good high protein pasta sauce. And especially if you
(04:44):
are a vegetarian and you are always looking for non
meat ways to introduce protein and cheer meals, you are
going to love this all right. There are your recipes
for the week. You can find and print them all
in Recipe Club individually or in our weekly meal plan
where we have an easy to follow shopping list that
it's broken down by recipe. You guys know, Recipe Club
is a resource that allows you to access truly family tested,
(05:06):
just ask my kids, quick and simple recipes on the
internet without being bombarded with banner ads or long blog
posts or drawn out stories. I find and found for
many years accessing recipes on the Internet to be frustrating,
so I have very intentionally created a space where I
try and make that easier. And it's not just a
(05:27):
recipe resource. It is a simple dinner system. So for
the month of January, for anyone who's looking to set
up a simple dinner system that's going to carry them
throughout the year, we are discounting our annual membership by
twenty five percent, which makes Recipe Club just barely more
than one dollar per week throughout the year.
Speaker 1 (05:45):
Like I cannot. It's so that is so worth it.
Speaker 2 (05:49):
It's an incredible investment to have a simple dinner system
you can rely on. And the assistance is someone an
overwhelmed parent like myself helping you decide what to make
for dinner every week.
Speaker 1 (06:00):
Well worth that slightly.
Speaker 2 (06:03):
More than a dollar if you ask me. All right,
let's jump into the hat. All right, let's jump into
the back half of the podcast and discuss how to
drop off dinner or take a meal to someone. I
can't think of a more personal or heartwarming gift for
someone in need of a pick me up than bringing
(06:24):
them a meal. There is something so special about a
meal you make yourself with.
Speaker 1 (06:28):
Your own hands.
Speaker 2 (06:30):
And we'll know that a homemade meal doesn't just feed someone,
It says I care about you, I spend time on you,
I thought about your needs, and I am here to
help you are important to me. Can you send a
delivered pizza or door dash? Absolutely, and that's great too,
But it just kind of hits different when it's a
home cooked meal, but a grieving friend or a neighbor
(06:51):
who just lost their home, or someone who just had
a baby, someone who's had a knee replacement or got
a car accident. There's just so many instances that having
the confidence and the skill set to put together a
meal for someone who's going through something is such a
valuable skill to have in your tool belt of being
a good human on this planet. We've all found ourselves
(07:13):
in situations in life when sometimes you can't even handle
the basic task of feeding yourself, especially when you feel
like your life is falling apart, and especially if you're
not just in charge of yourself but you have other
people under your roof. And if you haven't found yourself
in that situation yet, you likely will and will know
how much it would mean if someone showed up with
(07:34):
a meal and dropped off dinner. So I thought it
might be helpful, especially because I am just right in
the thick of this right now, to kind of break
down the steps for taking a meal to someone dropping
off a dinner. I guess you could even call this
a recipe for dropping off dinner. I don't know, Okay,
(07:54):
So these are the steps I suggest, and how you're
going to kind of build that skill set reaching out
and letting your friend know you're bringing a meal.
Speaker 1 (08:04):
I think this is important because you don't. I mean,
it's better to do something and do nothing.
Speaker 2 (08:09):
But even if you are sending a text just to say,
no need to respond to me, I'm dropping something off,
But I do think it's nice to let them know
that you're dropping something off. But if this is someone
you have a good relationship with and you do anticipate
that they will respond to you, you just want to
confirm if you don't know if they have any allergies
or family of versions. Like the people I'm taking dinner
(08:31):
to this week, one of their kids has celiac and
so that was good for me to know. So I
was able to make something that they could all eat.
You could even ask if they're really good friends, anything
you're craving. And alternatively, and this is actually what I
did this time, is you could just sign up via
a meal train or you could organize one yourself. So
sign up Genius is great for this. But especially if
(08:53):
someone like in this situation where they have lost their home,
they are going to be navigating daily tasks for a
bit as they adjust to a new normal, and so
having a series of meals is very, very helpful, all right.
Number two in our recipe for taking someone's dinner, choose
what you'll make.
Speaker 1 (09:12):
I suggest having a go to list.
Speaker 2 (09:14):
Mine is a drop off dinner's note in both my
phone and in my recipe binder. I have a little
tab for that. This is just so helpful to take
the decision fatigue out of wanting to take someone dinner.
So I'll tell you what's in what's on my list.
Speaker 1 (09:31):
Because I use them kind of for different scenarios. Bonus points.
Speaker 2 (09:34):
If you're delivering a freezer friendly dinner, and I think
most of these are, one of them isn't, but we'll
talk about that. But just in case, they are getting
so much support and they've ended up with far more
food than they can eat through being able to stick
it in the freezer is super super helpful. Okay, this
is what's on my list. Bake ZD Bake ced is
(09:56):
my most popular recipe and recipe club. It's probably the
recipe I'm most known for. It freezes well, everybody loves it.
I make it often. The only time I'm not taking
BAKEDZD is if there is like a gluten allergy like
this time around, or if I have taken it to
them before or if I know that they make it regularly.
Speaker 1 (10:15):
But bake zd is so delicious. It's so good.
Speaker 2 (10:18):
It's even better as leftovers. It feeds a ton of people.
It's just a great option. It's like lasagna.
Speaker 1 (10:25):
Esque, but not lasagna. It's that's better than lasagna.
Speaker 2 (10:28):
Anyways, Big cit that's my number one. Number two is
Carneada's tacos, and this is what I am taking this week.
It is not difficult to make this recipe, but there
are a couple of components, so as I'm assembling it,
I need to make sure that I reserve enough time
to make the different components. Because when I take the
Carnada's tacos, I usually like to do pickled onions with it.
(10:51):
If I've got time, we like to throw a little together,
a little guacamole. I usually do some rice and beans,
and if they have kids, like they do, this time,
I'm gonna do some quesada and used some gluten free
tortillas for those case idias, but also the rice, the
beans and some tortilla chips and stuff like that. So
Carneitis tacos, man, They're good, and it's just I don't know.
(11:12):
You can make a burrito bowl out of it. You
can do the tacos. It's I really like taking this
meal and it's so pretty, it's so colorful, and anyways, okay,
it's on my list. Indian butter chickens on my list.
Another very popular recipe and recipe Club also freeze as well.
I once upon a time took this meal to a
friend in a twelve inch cast iron skillet with dual handles.
Speaker 1 (11:37):
That's my favorite one.
Speaker 2 (11:39):
And I just told them to keep the skillet, don't
worry about report. She is someone who was always like,
I need new coke wear, and so I was like,
just keep the pan. You'll love this pan. But that
and then I usually do non bread with it and rice,
and then this one's kind of like, uh, not as obvious.
But I took this to a friend recently and she
just talked about how her daughter had been in the
hospital with pneumonia for about a week, and she talked
(12:02):
about how they were getting so much, you know, generosity
from people, but it was a lot of soup, stews, chilies,
baked dishes, and so to get these Mediterranean roasted sweet
potatoes felt like such a treat.
Speaker 1 (12:13):
So I roastweet.
Speaker 2 (12:14):
Potatoes, and I make this Mediterranean like bright salad that
goes on top with this delicious hummus sauce and lemon,
and she sent me multiple text saying, oh so good,
I'm so glad you brought this. So that's another one
that has now made it onto the list because she
enjoyed it so much. When you were taking a dish
like this or dinner like this, if you're wanting to
(12:35):
do a side dish, I highly recommend keeping it very simple,
so don't overwhelm yourself. Anything homemade is great, but like
for my baked ZD I usually will do like a
salad kit and some garlic bread, and I usually deliver
it in a foil nine x thirteen so they don't
have to worry about returning anything to me and they
can just bake it directly in that. And that's something
(12:57):
I'll say sometimes if I I'm talking to them, I
will say, do you want me to deliver it hot?
Or do you want me to deliver it so that
you can stick it in the fridge and then bake
it off when you're ready. I think if you're going
to default, I would just show up with it warm,
so they could eat it right away, but if, like
I said, if they're getting a lot of support and
they have smother meals, it might be nice. Or they
(13:18):
could even stick it in the freezer. Okay, carnitas. Like
I said, let's talk about simple sides here. Tacos are
so simple, but you know there are components. So I
am gonna make pickled onions. I'm not gonna make the salceat.
I am gonna make a little guacamole, and I'm gonna
do the case ideas with the rice and beans and.
Speaker 1 (13:36):
What for this instance. And I wouldn't.
Speaker 2 (13:38):
Typically always do this, but because this family just lost everything,
I am going to make everything and transfer it to
my favorite food storage containers, which is the rubber made
Brilliance Set.
Speaker 1 (13:50):
They are just the best.
Speaker 2 (13:53):
When it comes to food storage containers. And I'm gonna
deliver the food in that and just let her know
that she can keep them because they are hands down
one of the most used things in my kitchen.
Speaker 1 (14:02):
And if my kitchen burned down, I would miss those.
I would really miss those.
Speaker 2 (14:06):
So I am going to do that there. If there's
a situation, I mean, every situation is going to be
so different. We just don't want to create a burden
for them to have to return anything to us. So
if you are wanting to make something, bake it in
something and say just keep it, that's great, or that
the foil.
Speaker 1 (14:23):
Pans are also a great option the end.
Speaker 2 (14:27):
In buttered chicken, I the easy sides are the rice
and the non and usually I chop some fresh cilantro
and do fresh wedges of lime, and then like I said,
with the roasted sowat potatoes, the humma sauce, and that
tomato parsley salad. If you're feeling even more extra in this,
I guess would be technically number four. In our recipe
of dropping off dinner, you.
Speaker 1 (14:47):
Can include something sweet.
Speaker 2 (14:49):
It certainly does not need to be in over the
top dessert. Some ideas would even be picking up bakery
cookies or ice cream, or if you've got them frozen
cookie dough balls that they could bake off, or even
just good chocolate. I think that's great.
Speaker 1 (15:03):
Number five, you want to make it, Like.
Speaker 2 (15:07):
I said, I think if you're going to default, I
would say make the meal, let it cool slightly, and
take it some of you know my sister in law, Betsy,
Betsy's best bets. She's amazing and she's the one who
taught me this. She's my sister in law and she's
what ten years old in me something like that, and
I learned so much from her, and she's such a
charitable person. And I remember her giving me this tip
(15:29):
once that when you're taking a meal, especially like to
a mom who's just had a bat a baby, just
take it ready to go. She doesn't want to put
it in the oven, just take it ready to go.
And then finally, if there are instructions that they need,
I would just prepare those ahead of time so that
you don't have to be giving some sort of instruction
when you're dropping it off. Write it down, whether it's
(15:50):
reheating instructions, or if they're going to stick it in
their freezer and you want instructions for what to do
for it to come out of the freezer, just anything,
any information, write it down so that you don't have
to have some long conversation, especially if this person is
grieving and is not up for chatting.
Speaker 1 (16:06):
Okay, that's it.
Speaker 2 (16:08):
Here are a couple of additional thoughts. I kind of
mentioned it earlier, but if you do want to go
the extra mile or you don't live near someone but
want to help with meals in a situation like this,
consider spearheading a meal train through sign up Genius, or
there's a service called take the Meal as well. That's
a great way to get involved if you're not close by.
(16:28):
And also I mean door Dash and Uber Eats that's
another great way to get people food. I really want
to emphasize this one because, like I said, everyone takes
your turn for heartache and going through something hard where
your community wants to support and rally around you. Be
okay with the drop and go. Sometimes people aren't up
(16:49):
for company and it is not personal, it is just
a product of the situation at hand. In this case,
simply text or call the family or maybe the person
who is doing the meal train and say this is
what time will be dropping off.
Speaker 1 (17:05):
Let them know it's there. I'm wishing them the best.
Speaker 2 (17:07):
And if you want to write a little small handwritten note, great,
But that is what I plan to do with this
family today they have or later this week. They have
to be so overwhelmed when it comes to answering people's
questions and being displaced, and she's got people bringing meals
every day, and I'm sure she does not need to
(17:28):
kind of lay out the whole story for a new
stranger every day. So I think the drop and go
is unless you really know this person and you know
that they want that, that they want to talk about it.
I would almost assume the opposite that the drop and go,
especially if they're writing the thick of something.
Speaker 1 (17:48):
All right.
Speaker 2 (17:48):
One last thought is offering to knock at their grocery list.
I did this for my friend who had a daughter
in the hospital with pneumonia is. I took her dinner,
but I also said, hey, I'm going to Costco beforehand,
what can I get for you? And she sent me
a list and it was so easy for me just
to get her stuff and drop it off when I
dropped dinner off.
Speaker 1 (18:07):
So consider that. All right. Oh, I hope not too
many of you.
Speaker 2 (18:12):
Have been affected by these fires. It's just so heavy
on my heart, and I'm grateful for the opportunities I've
had to serve as a result, but oh, my goodness,
so so heavy. All right, let's finish this with my
weekly gimme five. These are five things that made my
life easier or more enjoyable this week. First thing on
the list is this rubber made, brilliant set that I
(18:34):
am taking these this family's meal in hands down my
favorite favorite favorite meal prep containers or meal storage containers.
They come in both glass and plastic. They used to
only come in glass in like a few limited sizes,
but they just released a bigger set in glass that
is so great.
Speaker 1 (18:54):
You deserve to.
Speaker 2 (18:55):
Have matching food storage containers, especially if you're someone who
eats leftovers often or does any sort of meal prep.
It's like it's a grown up flex Like if you're
a grown up, they should match. That's just kind of
how I feel. Or if you're looking for permission, I
give it to you to get a good set of
food prep containers.
Speaker 1 (19:16):
Okay, next guys.
Speaker 2 (19:18):
This was something I mentioned on the podcast last week,
and then I didn't end up sending it out because
in via email because we ended up doing a special
version of Gimme.
Speaker 1 (19:28):
Five for wildfire relief.
Speaker 2 (19:31):
But I like it so much I have to mention
it again. Who knew that a new pepper grinder could
make me so happy?
Speaker 1 (19:37):
I think I told you.
Speaker 2 (19:38):
I updated from my ten dollars one that I'd had
for the past two years, But honestly, the ten dollars.
Speaker 1 (19:43):
One worked for two years. It was pretty great, but
oh man, there's a difference.
Speaker 2 (19:47):
I spent forty dollars instead of ten dollars. And it's
so pretty and it works so well, and it just
makes me so happy, and I use it multiple times
a day. That in the salt pig, like the big
salt seller. So I've got like a new kitchen basic
station setup next to my stove and it is I mean,
it's probably just because of what my job is, but
it makes me so happy every day. Okay, coloring calendar,
(20:11):
you guys, This coloring calendar is awesome. My sister sent
me this link. I have very artistic little girls who
love to color. And as part of our big family
evening this week, we did a family planning session and
we looked at the whole year, and the girls got
out their calendars and my son got out his little
(20:33):
I want to say phone, but it's like a family
communication device, it's not a smartphone, and he's filled in
all this stuff, everybody's birthdays in the family, and then
we did the vacations were going on or big events
that are happening, and it was kind of like a
family planning session. And my girl's colored in these calendars
and it was like super fun. I made a note
that I want to do every year. I just think
(20:54):
it's a good kind of kickoff to a new year.
And then listen, do not sleep on classroom Valentines. I
when am I going to learn this lesson? Apparently this
year because I am ordering the classroom Valentines now on
mid January. I am ordering them because they always sell out,
(21:14):
and I am always scrambling and I am always paying
extra Amazon delivery fees or scouring which target has anything left.
Not this year, I have rounded up a couple of
my favorite classroom Valentines. The ones my kids picked were
so cute. Nora is doing these little you know, I
think they're called gibbets that you like put them on
(21:35):
your crocs and they're little, I don't know, they're little characters.
Found them on Amazon, but it's cute. It's like a
little Valentine with two little gibbits. So she's doing that,
and then Penny is doing little.
Speaker 1 (21:47):
Paint what do you call that?
Speaker 2 (21:48):
Like a little paint container, you know, like the ones
that are along like a ruler, but the openings for
where the water colors are heart shaped. They're so cute
little paint sets.
Speaker 1 (21:58):
So I've rounded those up for you.
Speaker 2 (22:00):
That'll be going out in a link in my newsletter tomorrow.
In addition to we now have a blog on Kelsey
Nixon dot com, so every week we will include all
of the links to Gimme Five that's discussed here and
other fun stuff. All right, that's it for today. You guys,
make sure you're subscribed to the podcast so that you
never miss an episode. This podcast is always meant to
be a quick twenty minute listen while you map out
(22:22):
your own meals.
Speaker 1 (22:22):
For the week.
Speaker 2 (22:23):
You guys all know that listening to a podcast has
always been part of my system, and I actually had
someone ask me this week, what podcast do you listen to?
I listen to Armchair Expert, so hopefully that satisfies you.
It's one of my favorites, but it's always been part
of my simple dinner system. I love it, so I
try and put out something that's a good fit for
that each week.
Speaker 1 (22:42):
Thank you so.
Speaker 2 (22:43):
Much for listening today. I'm so glad you're here. Sending
my best to everyone in Los Angeles and until next time,
happy cooking. I'm Kelsey and look forward to chatting with
you next week.
Host
Kelsey Nixon
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